Artificial bush construction

ABSTRACT

A PLURALITY OF SEPARATE ARTIFICIAL BRANCHES ARRANGED IN A BUNDLE, A BINDING CIRCUMPOSED ABOUT THE BUNDLE, AND CERTAIN OF THE BRANCHES BENT OUTWARDLY AND UPWARDLY EXTERIORLY OF THE BINDING TO CONCEAL THE LATTER.

w u A B A ARTIFICIAL BUSH CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 7, 1969 INVENTOR imam/z 6a 166 BY J 1 ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,573,143 ARTIFICIAL BUSH CONSTRUCTION Ammon Bans, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Carey-McFall Company, Philadelphia, Pa. Filed Jan. 7, 1969, Ser. No. 789,550 Int. Cl. A41g 1/00 U.S. Cl. 161-27 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A plurality of separate artificial branches arranged in a bundle, a binding circumposed about the bundle, and certain of the branches bent outwardly and upwardly exteriorly of the binding to conceal the latter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION While the art of artificial plants and trees is highly developed, emphasis in the past has been placed upon artificial trees primarily for indoor use, such as artificial Christmas trees and plants for interior decoration. These prior constructions do not readily adapt for use in simulating outdoor shrubbery, nor for outdoor use in general.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide an artificial bush construction which accurately simulates outdoor shrubbery, and is uniquely adapted for outdoor use, as well as interior decoration.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an artificial bush construction having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, which is extremely simple in design and manufacture, being capable of economic production for sale at a reasonable price, being uniquely attractive in its accurate simulation of a natural shrub, and which is durable and reliable throughout a long useful life.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly broken away, showing an artificial bush constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of the instant bush construction for clarity of understanding.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawing, and specifically to FIG. 1 thereof, an artificial bush or shrub is generally designated 10, and includes a plurality of separate artificial branches, as at 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. The several branches are arranged in a bundle and bound together by suitable binding means, such as a pair of straps 20 and 21.

A support member or post 25 has its upper end anchored in the bundle of branches 1145, its lower end depending from the bundle. An upwardly opening receiver or tube 26 is embedded in a ground surface 28 for removably re ceiving the depending lower end of support post or rod 25.

More specifically, the separate artifical branches 11-15 may each be of any suitable construction. However, it has been advantageous to fabricate the separate branches by twisting a pair of wires and thereby anchoring between the Wires a plurality of bristles extending laterally from the wires. In this manner, the bristles accurately simulate the needles of a natural shrub.

The bundle formation of branches 11-15 is best seen in the diagrammatic representation of FIG. 4. 'For simplicity in manufacture, the separate branches 11-15 may all be of substantially the same length. Certain of the branches, such as branches 11 and 14 are arranged with one end thereof, as at 11a and 14a in overlapping relation of the remainder of the branches, such as 12, 13 and 15. That is, the group of remaining branches 12, 13 and 15 may all be arranged in coterminous relation with each other, while the branches 11 and 14 each have one end portion 11a and 14a, respectfully, in overlapping relation with the group of branches 11, 12 and 15. The straps or bindings 20 and 21 may then be secured about the overlapping end portions of all the branches 11-15.

In practice, with the branches 11-15 initially all straight, the branches 11 and 14 are located substantially coterminus with each other and having their end portions 11a and 14a overlapping the end portions of the remaining branches 12, 13 and 15, which remaining branches are also coterminus with each other. In this condition, the support or rod 25 is located centrally of the branches 11-15, being provided on an upper end with an enlargement, head or anchoring means 27, such as a Washer or disc fixed on the rod. In this assembled condition the bundle of branches 11-15 is bound by straps 20 and 21, and the branches 11 and 14 bent upwards, as at 11b and 14b exteriorly of the bindings 20, 21.

In a preferred embodiment, it has been found advantageous to arrange about forty percent of the branches for reverse bending, as at 11 and 14, leaving about sixty percent of the branches not reversely bent, as at 12, 13 and 15.

This results in a completed bush 10 having branches of varying heights, and wherein the bindings 20, 21 are obscured or concealed from view, to present the accurate appearance of a natural bush. If desired, the branches 11-15 may be of an undulant or sinusoidal configuration prior to assembly, or may be bent into an undulant form after assembly.

It only remains to insert the depending end of support rod 25 into the upwardly opening end of receiver tube 26, and the bush 10 is mounted in desired position. Removal of the bush 10 is readily effected by mere upward movement of the bush to withdraw the rod 25 from the receiver 26. This permits of mowing or working the soil without obstruction by the bush.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides an accurate simulation of a natural shrub, which construction fully accomplishes its intended objects.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An artificial bush construction comprising a plurality of separate artificial branches arranged in a bundle, and a binding circumposed about said bundle, certain of said branches being reversely bent exteriorly of said binding to conceal the latter.

2. An artificial bush construction according to claim 1, said branches being of undulant configuration for accurate simulation.

3. An artificial bush construction according to claim 1, the remainder of said branches being generally coterminous, and said certain branches each having one end portion overlapping the adjacent end portions of said remaining branches, said binding extending about said remaining branches and overlapping portions, the other end portions of said certain branches extending exteriorly of said binding.

4. An artificial bush construction according to claim 3, in combination with a support member centrally of said bundle and having a portion projecting outwardly beyond said adjacent end portions of said remaining branches for mounting the bush.

5. An artificial bush construction according to claim 4, in combination with a receiver adapted to be mounted in a ground surface for removable reception of the projecting portion of said support member, to removably mount said bush.

6. An artificial bush construction according to claim 4, in combination with anchoring means on said support member for firm retention of said support member in said bundle.

7. An artificial bush construction according to claim 4, said branches each comprising a pair of twisted Wires, and bristles held between and extending from said Wires.

8. An artificial bush construction according to claim 4, said remaining branches comprising approximately sixty percent of said branches.

9. An artificial bush construction according to claim 4, said branches all being of approximately equal length, said certain branches being bent proximate to the adjacent ends of said remaining branches.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,499,818 3/1970 Kent l6l22X 3,384,689 5/1968 Logan l6l22X 1,689,530 10/1928 Landers l6l22 1,555,475 9/1925 Maunz 16127X PHILIP DIER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

